2004 FIA Main Event
Friday (qualifying)
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22:00
We've now posted today's pictures; you can access them via the Event Index page. Tune back in the morning and we'll bring you all the news from day two of qualifying.
18:30
A few changes in the top five of 9.90 Bike after today's fifth and final session: 1. Dave Warren 9.915/127.15, 2. Steve Coombs 9.921/133.18, 3. Geoff Connor 9.931/117.81, 4. Fred Furlong 9.947/138.80, 5. Richard Beck 9.959/130.05
The latest pit update from Simon Groves is that Carl Gray is planning to be back out on track in 9.90 Bike tomorrow after his spill earlier. Carl is on his way to Hockley to pick up a new sump. The bike has only a couple of small scratches despite sliding along the track for a fair distance. The Hyena team are set for a late night tonight!
Super Pro ET stayed as-was after the fifth session: 1. Kev Taylor +0.011 9.001/147.06, 2. Steve Neimantas +0.017 8.667/160.64, 3. Roger Moore +0.026 7.986/165.36, 4. Pat Talbot +0.036 7.736/174.99, 5. Ian Tubb +0.041 7.771/173.20
Craig Gibbs, who is running the Obsession Super Mod in Super Pro this weekend, had a problem earlier with shake vibrating the on/off switch into the off position. Jon Hogarth effected repairs before this session and Craig got down the track without any dramas in this session.
No changes either in Super Comp after session five: 1. Paul Ingar Udtian 8.902/129.02, 2. Zane Llewellyn 8.906/152.50, 3. Phil Bennett 8.919/143.71, 4. Shaun Lathan 8.919/151.46, 5. Mark Fairhurst 8.920/150.52
We had a re-order in Sportsman ET after today's fifth and final session, with Rick Denny coming back in: 1. Linda Platt +0.001 12.851/108.46, 2. Tanya Partridge +0.013 14.263/96.57, 3. Mark Anderson +0.021 12.701/105.66, 4. Rick Denny +0.029 13.529/97.57, 5. Mick McGough +0.032 13.782/97.40
The last class which ran today was Junior Dragster, Nick Mugridge grabbed the lead in the fifth and final session and only 0.011 now covers the top five: 1. Nick Mugridge 0.003, 2. Kane Jones 0.005, 3. Holly Mitchell 0.007, 4. Andy Herron 0.007, 5. Ross Norris 0.011
We are now working on today's pictures, stay tuned.
17:45
Pro ET finished off the day with another Perfect ET, this time from Rick McCann, which put him into second place in the standings after session five: 1. Bob Doyle +0.000 10.350/132.19, 2. Rick McCann +0.000 10.250/129.30, 3. Wayne Hiscock +0.002 10.872/125.45, 4. Kev Slyfield +0.002 11.722/115.41, 5. Ian Brown 10.848/119.77
Conrad Stanley promoted himself up the top five in Super Gas, which after session five stands as follows: 1. Peter Lane 9.904/141.96, 2. Tim Adam 9.905/144.65, 3. Conrad Stanley 9.908/134.80 4. Stuart Doignie 9.913/125.38, 5. Pete Creswell 9.916/142.35
No changes in the top five in Super Street although Mark Watkins took £75 from Eurodragster.com and Speedflow with a perfect 0.000 Reaction Time in this fifth session of qualifying. Well done Mark! 1. Mark Watkins 10.901/114.18, 2. Paul Marston 10.902/119.73, 3. Bob Lees 10.902/124.33, 4. John Grant 10.905/134.30, 5. Mike Bentley 10.907/130.73
The five placings in 10.90 Bike remain unchanged although John Hackney improved slightly in this fifth session: 1. Phil Pratt 10.925/123.99, 2. John Hackney 10.970/104.66, 3. Shaun Spiers 11.042/128.55, 4. Lizz McCarthy 11.505/127.54, 5. Andrew Grant 12.242/116.60
17:25
The top five in Super Comp didn't change after session 4: 1. Paul Ingar Udtian 8.902/129.02, 2. Zane Llewellyn 8.906/152.50, 3. Phil Bennett 8.919/143.71, 4. Shaun Lathan 8.919/151.46, 5. Mark Fairhurst 8.920/150.52
No changes either in Sportsman ET after session 4: 1. Linda Platt +0.001 12.851/108.46, 2. Tanya Partridge +0.013 14.263/96.57, 3. Mark Anderson +0.021 12.701/105.66, 4. Mick McGough +0.032 13.782/97.40, 5. George Greves +0.053 13.303/102.24
We do however have changes in the top five of Junior Dragster, with a new number one: 1. Kane Jones 0.005, 2. Andy Herron 0.007, 3. Ross Norris 0.011, 4. Matthew Seamarks 0.014, 5. Tom Watts 0.019
The track temperature after the JD session was 87 F, 19.3 C alongside the track, 45% humidity and 30.21 inches of air.
17:05
More changes in the top five of Super Street which is now separated by 0.007 seconds! 1. Mark Watkins 10.901/114.18, 2. Paul Marston 10.902/119.73, 3. Bob Lees 10.902/124.33, 4. John Grant 10.905/134.30, 5. Mike Bentley 10.907/130.73
Changes too in the top five of Super Pro ET after the fourth session with Steve Neimantas flying the flag for the Custom Car contingent: 1. Kev Taylor +0.011 9.001/147.06, 2. Steve Neimantas +0.017 8.667/160.64, 3. Roger Moore +0.026 7.986/165.36, 4. Pat Talbot +0.036 7.736/174.99, 5. Ian Tubb +0.041 7.771/173.20
Pat Talbot's first run this morning ended just off the start line with a bang from the transmission. Stephen Talbot told Simon "The car jumped from first into neutral, which we trust won't happen again!". The team installed the 'baby' nitrous kit before this session and were hoping for a low seven-second pass, which Pat more than managed with a 7.126 on a 7.15 dial-in.
No change in the 10.90 Bike standings after session four although Phil Pratt has improved still further at the top: 1. Phil Pratt 10.925/123.99, 2. John Hackney 10.977/114.25, 3. Shaun Spiers 11.042/128.55, 4. Lizz McCarthy 11.505/127.54, 5. Andrew Grant 12.242/116.60
We will be down to four tomorrow as Lizz McCarthy has withdrawn with a torn ligament in her arm. Get well soon Lizz.
Some changes in 9.90 Bike after session four: 1. Dave Warren 9.915/127.15, 2. Steve Coombs 9.921/133.18, 3. Geoff Connor 9.931/117.81, 4. Richard Beck 9.962/135.81, 5. Richard Sawatzki 9.971/110.35
15:55
The fourth session of Pro ET saw no changes in the top five, which still stands at: 1. Bob Doyle 0.000 10.350/132.19, 2. Wayne Hiscock +0.002 10.872/125.45, 3. Kev Slyfield +0.002 11.722/115.41, 4. Gary Springford +0.009 10.209/129.31, 5. Marius Blackburn +0.010 9.470/139.43
Eurodragster.com/Scorpion Racing Award partner Colin Aldred was back out in this session after pulling a huge wheelie in his Classy Chassis slingshot this morning. "The new nitrous timer is mounted in such a way that the vibration of the burnout chafed through two solenoid wires, which activated 75 additional horsepower off the line, rather than being applied progressively", Colin told Simon Groves. Colin expressed confidence that the problem has been addressed but has added more lead to the front axle just in case!
Colin asked us to send his own congratulations to pit partner Chris Johnson who recorded his first eight-second pass in Super Comp qualifying earlier.
The top five names in Super Gas haven't changed, but their order has: 1. Peter Lane 9.904/141.96, 2. Tim Adam 9.905/144.65, 3. Stuart Doignie 9.913/125.38, 4. Pete Creswell 9.916/142.35, 5. Conrad Stanley 9.941/135.11
Al O'Connor is back for the first time since 2001 in his Al's Gasser '48 Anglia. It has a new Small Block Chevy engine and told Simon that he is delighted with its performance so far, with a 9.85 on his second run. Al is supported by Dave Eady American Parts Centre, and if you see him in the pits then look out for his distinctive head tattoo.
Track conditions right now are 19.7 C, 44% humidity and 30.24 inches of air trackside, and a track temperature of 96 F.
15:30
When we left you, we were in the middle of 9.90 Bike qualifying session three, which had been stopped by Carl Gray's spill. The top five is now: 1. Steve Coombs 9.921/133.18, 2. Geoff Connor 9.931/117.81, 3. Richard Sawatzki 9.971/110.35, 4. Dave Hall 10.008/141.57, 5. Steve Ashby 10.025/119.07
Lee Baxendale, who is back in the UK for a short stay and is racing one of Ken Cooper's bikes this weekend, asked us to say a big Hello to everyone in South Africa and New Zealand.
One change in the top five of Super Comp after session three: 1. Paul Ingar Udtian 8.902/129.02, 2. Zane Llewellyn 8.906/152.50, 3. Phil Bennett 8.919/143.71, 4. Shaun Lathan 8.919/151.46, 5. Mark Fairhurst 8.920/150.52
Some new names in the top five of Sportsman ET after this session: 1. Linda Platt +0.001 12.851/108.46, 2. Tanya Partridge +0.013 14.263/96.57, 3. Mark Anderson +0.021 12.701/105.66, 4. Mick McGough +0.032 13.782/97.40, 5. George Greves +0.053 13.303/102.24
Some moves also in the top five of Junior Dragster after the third session: 1. Andy Herron 0.007, 2. Ross Norris 0.011, 3. Matthew Seamarks 0.014, 4. Tom Watts 0.019, 5. Nick Mugridge 0.026
We are now going into a fourth session of qualifying, and we understand that a fifth session is to be added. Stay tuned!
14:00
It's getting tight in Pro ET after the third session, with 0.010 separating the top five: 1. Bob Doyle 0.000 10.350/132.19, 2. Wayne Hiscock +0.002 10.872/125.45, 3. Kev Slyfield +0.002 11.722/115.41, 4. Gary Springford +0.009 10.209/129.31, 5. Marius Blackburn +0.010 9.470/139.43
More changes in the top five of Super Gas after session three: 1. Peter Lane 9.904/141.96, 2. Pete Creswell 9.916/142.35, 3. Tim Adam 9.931/144.20, 4. Conrad Stanley 9.941/135.11, 5. Stuart Doignie 9.983/134.70
Super Street is closing right up after session three with eight thousandths separating the top four and wholesale changes in the top five: 1. Mark Watkins 10.902/119.73, 2. Paul Marston 10.902/119.73, 3. John Grant 10.905/134.40, 4. Ian Brown 10.908/119.40, 5. Bob Lees 10.916/124.68
There were no changes to the top five in Super Pro ET after session three: 1. Kev Taylor +0.014 9.004/157.55, 2. Roger Moore +0.026 7.986/165.36, 3. Pat Talbot +0.036 7.736/174.99, 4. Ian Tubb +0.041 7.771/173.20, 5. Mark Flavell +0.042 7.592/167.93
George Chiarella and his crew are very happy bunnies after George clocked 7.993 in this qualifying session, a PB for George.
Simon Groves, who is helping us out with our reports this weekend, had a stroll down to the pits for us to have a word with Steve Saunders after his Zephyr dropped a lot of metal and oil onto the track in this morning's first session. It transpires that a prop shaft broke 0.2 seconds into the run. The harness mounting and shifter were also damaged. "We said we would run all Championship rounds and then this happens!", said Steve. Steve hopes to install an aftermarket prop shaft and an axle which can handle all of his Ford power. Best wishes to Steve for a very rapid return.
Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Jackson is another racer we're not likely to see again this weekend after going through the top end in a cloud of smoke in the second session. Engine damage is suspected. "The oil pressure on the run was good, but there were sine srange noises", Ian told Simon. Ian is as ever being aided by Al Cook whose business produces fibreglass parts for all forms of motorsport.
The placings in 10.90 Bike have not changed although we have had some improvements in ETs: 1. Phil Pratt 10.936/123.99, 2. John Hackney 10.977/114.25, 3. Shaun Spiers 11.042/128.55, 4. Lizz McCarthy 11.505/127.54, 5. Andrew Grant 12.242/116.60
We're currently on hold after Super Street Bike racer Carl Gray took a spill from his bike in 9.90 qualifying. The bike pulled a huge wheelie about 150 feet out and when it came down the sump was smashed and deposited the engine's entire supply of oil under the bike. Sprocket held onto the bike until about half track and then it got away from him and he was off; he was straight back up onto his feet and is A-OK, no word on the state of the bike.
Bradley O'Connor has taken away Graham Dance's bottom qualifying spot in 9.90 Bike with an astounding 8.046/181.54 in Super Street trim; stay tuned and we will bring you the top five in 9.90 Bike as soon as the session finishes.
Right now the trackside conditions are 19.2 C, 45% humidity and 30.24 inches of air pressure; track temperature is 96 F.
12:55
We've now got to the end of the second cycle of qualifying and we have a new leader in Super Comp. The top five is now: 1. Paul Ingar Udtian 8.902/129.02, 2. Zane Llewellyn 8.906/152.50, 3. Phil Bennett 8.919/143.71, 4. Shaun Lathan 8.919/151.46, 5. Chris Johnson 8.921/155.16
Chris Johnson said that his 8.921 was for Paul Somerville who is in hospital with a badly-damaged knee. Paul is going in for surgery this afternoon and we all wish him very well.
The lead has also changed in Sportsman ET after session two: 1. Tanya Partridge +0.013 14.263/96.57, 2. Mark Anderson +0.021 12.701/105.66, 3. Jon Turner +0.120 12.820/104.66, 4. Rick Denny +0.141 13.541/97.41, 5. Richard Hillier +0.151 13.131/102.93
Some new names in the top five of Junior Dragster after session two: 1. Ross Norris 0.011, 2. Matthew Seamarks 0.014, 3. Nick Mugridge 0.026, 4. Anna Stanley 0.027, 5. Tom Watts 0.038
12:35
The Sportsman qualifying is coming thick and fast now, we've got a job on to keep up with it! A lot of changes in the top five Super Pro ET after session 2: 1. Kev Taylor +0.014 9.004/157.55, 2. Roger Moore +0.026 7.986/165.36, 3. Pat Talbot +0.036 7.736/174.99, 4. Ian Tubb +0.041 7.771/173.20, 5. Mark Flavell +0.042 7.592/167.93
We're now up to five in 10.90 Bike although the top four standings have not changed: 1. Phil Pratt 10.974/124.32, 2. John Hackney 10.977/114.25, 3. Shaun Spiers 11.042/128.55, 4. Lizz McCarthy 11.505/127.54, 5. Andrew Grant 13.699/106.57
A new leader in 9.90 Bike after session two, and some juggling in the top five: 1. Geoff Connor 9.931/117.81, 2. Richard Sawatzki 9.971/110.35, 3. Dave Hall 10.008/141.57, 4. Steve Ashby 10.056/134.40, 5. Fred Furlong 10.065/133.88
12:10
Bob Doyle took the Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award in the second round of Pro ET qualifying with a 10.350 on a 10.35 dial-in. Well done Bob and Tracey! Tracey tells us that she set the dial-in despite Bob thinking it was too slow. The top five in Pro ET after session two is as follows: 1. Bob Doyle 0.000 10.350/132.19, 2. Gary Springford +0.009 10.209/129.31, 3. Moose Hollingworth +0.017 10.317/132.38, 4. Brian Huxley +0.024 10.824/121.68, 5. Rick McCann +0.024 10.334/130.06
Some changes also in the top five of Super Gas after session two: 1. Conrad Stanley 9.941/135.11, 2. Pete Creswell 9.947/147.11, 3. Stuart Doignie 9.983/134.70, 4. Peter Lane 10.028/141.13, 5. Dave Gadney 10.041/134.82
The lead hasn't changed in Super Street although some of the other top five placings have changed: 1. Mark Watkins 10.901/114.18, 2. Ron Haffenden 10.921/106.63, 3. Lee Huxley 10.927/119.32, 4. Mark Pointer 10.934/121.64, 5. Mike Bentley 10.973/131.57
11:40
The top five qualifiers in Super Comp after session one are: 1. Zane Llewellyn 8.906/152.50, 2. Phil Bennett 8.919/143.71, 3. Rob Faulkner 8.935/146.58, 4. Mark Fairhurst 8.955/153.02, 5. Paul Ingar Udtian 8.971/127.44
After session one of Sportsman ET, the top five are as follow: 1. Mark Anderson +0.041 12.721/105.93, 2. Jon Turner +0.120 12.820/104.66, 3. Rick Denny +0.141 13.541/97.41, 4. Richard Hiller +0.151 13.131/102.93, 5. Nick Gay +0.218 15.918/84.12
The top five in Junior Dragster after session one are as follow: 1. Ross Norris 0.011, 2. Matthew Seamarks 0.014, 3. Anna Stanley 0.027, 4. Andy Herron 0.045, 5. Nick Mugridge 0.074
That completes the first cycle of qualifying, stay tuned.
11:20
Paul Davis and Tim Garlick both took wild rides in the first session of Super Pro ET qualifying, Paul's altered getting a little squirrelly and then turning hard right. Paul kept it in his lane and upright although the car was not co-operating! Tim Garlick's Cortina turned right as it came down from the launch, Tim kept a good hold of the car. Two of the Custom Car Street Elimination contingent are in the top five at present, the top five qualifiers in Super Pro ET after session one are: 1. Roger Moore +0.029 7.989/166.66, 2. Pat Talbot +0.036 7.736/174.99, 3. John Everitt +0.089 8.914/149.44, 4. Ian Jackson +0.021 8.644/163.50, 5. Steve Neimantas +0.283 8.831/164.35
Not so eventful was the first session of 10.90 Bike, which was contested by four bikes. The four qualifiers after session one are: 1. Phil Pratt 10.974/124.32, 2. John Hackney 10.977/114.25, 3. Shaun Spiers 11.042/128.55, 4. Lizz McCarthy 12.478/128.55
Much naughtiness in 9.90 Bike where Graham Dance sits at the bottom of the pile with an 8.293/174.53 on his Super Street Bike. At the legal end, the top five in 9.90 Bike after session one are: 1. Richard Sawatzki 9.971/110.35, 2. Dave Hall 10.008/141.57, 3. Fred Furlong 10.065/133.88, 4. Andy Burfitt 10.065/137.51, 5. Andy Bird 10.105/139.23
10:40
Top five qualifiers in Super Gas after session 1: 1. Pete Creswell 9.947/147.11, 2. Stuart Doingie 9.983/134.70, 3. Peter Lane 10.028/141.13, 4. Dave Gadney 10.041/134.82, 5. Frank Mason 10.228/132.75
Top five qualifiers in Super Street after session 1: 1. Mark Watkins 10.901/114.18, 2. Mark Pointer 10.934/121.64, 3. Elisabeth Bredal 11.010/120.64, 4. Paul Marston 11.051/116.92, 5. Mike Bentley 11.058/130.83
9:55
It was an eventful first session of Pro ET qualifying with Phil Toppin oiling the quarter mile on his qualifier, the track crew had the strip ready to go again in fourteen minutes only for VW racer Ken Blomer to oil from 200 feet to the first turnoff in the very next pairing. No word on what ails either car. After the first session of qualifying, the top five in Pro ET are: 1. Gary Springford +0.009 10.209/129.31, 2. Moose Hollingworth +0.017 10.317/132.38, 3. Rick McCann +0.024 10.824/121.68, 4. John Morris +0.037 11.187/118.76, 5. Carl Burton +0.051 11.051/120.30
Trackside conditions are 14.3 C, 62% humidity, 30.24 inches of air pressure, and courtesy of Martin Curbishley we have borrowed a temperature gun for the weekend and the track temperature right now is 70 F.
8:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway. It's day one of the FIA Main Event, the first race of the European Championship season, and we're here to bring you all the news in association with American Car Imports.
The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and broadcasting a picture every two minutes. You can reach the webcam from the Event Index page.
Right now the trackside temperature is 11.2 C, 75% humidity and 30.24 inches air pressure.
We took a stroll through the pits after we got here yesterday. There were a lot of gaps in the pits but we managed to grab a few racers for a word.
Fuel FC racer Leif Helander arrived early in the afternoon and immediately went to bed as he had been driving for a long time. Team member L-O Jonsson told us that the team still have a lot of work to do, as the last UPS package containing parts arrived a couple of hours before they left for England. The team have a booking to do demonstration passes at Leif's home track of Sundsvall, and have had enquiries from several other tracks. "We'll see how we get on this weekend before we make any more bookings", said L-O.
We encountered a familiar face in the Top Methanol Funny Car pits in the person of Martin Lundquist, who is working with the Leander Brothers team until his own new car is ready. "I may have my new car at the European Finals, or it may be next season", said Martin. "I want my next car to be all-new and that takes a lot of time and money."
Top Methanol FC racer Arvid Grødem is glad to be back after having to sit out 2003. "I've wiped out last year from my memory!", he said. "I am anxious to get on with it. Last year I changed my job and my house and made the money to come back! I have a new clutch and a new block but I am not using that yet. I've got my crew back from Dan Larsen, and one of Rune Berg's Pro Stock crew has joined". Arvid's Crew Chief Per Egil is flying in from the USA this morning after flying out the day after the team tested at Gardermoen. Arvid said that as long as he doesn't suffer any major damage then he plans to contest the entire FIA tour, with backing from Quaker State Norway as well as DHL.
TMFC racer Dan Larsen said that he has not changed much since last season. "We have made some small changes to the fuel system but we we were happy with how it was running last season so didn't want to change too much", he said.
Fellow TMFC racer Ulf Leanders said something very similar. "The car is basically the same as the end of last year", he said. "It ran so well that we didn't want to change things. Our last run last season would have been a 5.62 on the incrementals before things went wrong. If it just continues that way we will be happy!"
Horst Pauli of Urs Erbacher's TMFC team said that they were happy with the way their testing went here at Santa Pod Raceway last Sunday. "Coming to the test put less pressure on Urs, and he got the bug again!", said Horst. "It's a different set-up from last year, but we're saying nothing. I told all our friends that you have to come and see it go quicker!"
Top Fuel Dragster team owner and Crew Chief Rune Fjeld said that he was happy with the progress of rookie Thomas Nataas. "Thomas is doing OK", he said, "he just needs a reference for what feels right. It all starts this weekend!". Stablemate Andy Carter said that he is going to make his competitors suffer for next year. "Bring them on!", he said.
Pro Mod racer Freddy Fagerström had problems getting here as his rig broke down more one on the journey. "We're here now", he said, "and I am going to beat Roger Johansson (who was standing next to him at the time - Ed)". Freddy said that he has a new clutch and new slicks, but has made no changes other than that. "The clutch should get me the number one plate!", he said. Freddy is not driving the Top Methanol Funny Car this season as he said that he found it "Too easy. Pro Mod is more fun because it's more difficult."
Roger Johansson said that he had a problem with a piston on his last run on Sunday. "We fixed that, and we did some work on the spare engine", he said. "We have also put on some new tyres". "He'll need them, terrible Freddy is here!", interjected Freddy Fagerström. Roger added that he and his team have been having to change piston rings, but that for a nitrous team that is as routine as a blower team having to change bearings.
Pro Mod racer Bert Englefield said that everything checked out OK after the Easter Thunderball. "We just want to go a bit faster now!", he said. "We have restripped the blower and freshened the heads. We want to be the quickest and fastest UK Pro Mod here this weekend."
Supertwin racer Ton Pels said that he and son and Crew Chief Vincent had moved the rear wheel and changed the slick on his new bike after a very successful outing at the Speedfreaks Ball. "The bike feels good", he said. "We worked long hours to get it ready to run at the Speedfreaks. Since then we have finished the seat and we have been working on the spare engine". I asked Ton how long it would take to change engines should - heaven forbid - he damage his primary engine. "It would take about half an hour to get the engine out, an hour to build the spare, and half an hour to fit it", said Ton. "The engine broke one run too early last year!", said Vincent Pels. "This engine has the 6.60 setting, I will be happy with a 6.70 - but no slower". Vincent told us an amusing story about the decision to build a new bike. "The old bike used to go left, so we decided to build a new chassis", he said. "So we built a new bike and this one goes right! Our objective for this weekend is to go straight and run a 6.50!"
Today we have four cycles of Sportsman qualifying scheduled; stay tuned and we'll bring you regular updates throughout the day on the qualifying standings.